Controlling mechanism for explosive-engines.



W. J. MoVIGKEEH CONTROLLING mmmmsm FOP. EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1905. v

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

w. w j

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. 3. McVIGKEE.

OONTRULLING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE mamas.

APPLICATION FILED AUG, 4, 1905,

Patented 15, 1910.

2 BEEETS-SHBET 2.

' the like Application tollowin is a soecificatiin.

My invention relates to mechanism for controlling the operation of explosive engines, such as r s end. gasolene engines and any object is to provide systern of control wherein two or more en ines, or cylinders, may be employed to clri/ve the same lcacl in soon a that the work will be evenly divided between them.

it 15 frequently of advantage to connect se oral small power 1s clone it has been tonn ciiiiicult toprop crly regulate the opera 'in of the small units so that one or other wouial not do a disproportionately share of the work. For instance, if the governor of one engine happens to be adjusted to render the igniting device of that engine responsive at aslightly higher speeii than the speed at which the igniter comes respon ve, ss the speed. of both engines rep. 1th an increasing load, theonc wliich. is adjusted to respon at the higher speed commences to do work before the other, and it may tints happen that, under certain conditions of load, one of the associated engines will (lo practically all of the work. Or, the governor is common to both ei'igi s, it is entirely a matter of chance incl. engine will take the explosion when the work requires it; and it may thus happen that one engine or the other will be doing more than its share of work.

it the principal object of my invention to provide means for insuring an even chs trilmtion of the work when a number of engines are connected to drive 'tl e same loath,

and this, generally speaking accomplish by the provisionof mechanism which operates automatically 1) ion the occurrence of an explosion in one. inc, shift the next explosion, whenever shower-l; may require it, to the other engine. This renders it.

practicableto use number of small engines on a given piece worn, instead oi. a single large one, with the that a more specification oi" .nits instead of a sin- P gle one to; drive a g v'cn load, but when this 20- v equipped the other engine be :rs latcnt.

cient operation, and a better speed regulation may be obtained.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is cliagramnmtic view of a two cylinoler plosive engine, equipped in accordance with my invention with means for alternating the ignition spark between the two cylinders; Fig. 2 is a tliagranimatic view of the circuit of the governor; Fig. 3 and 4 are views plan and. elevation, respectively, of a form of electromagnetic switch for alter.- nat-ing the ignition circuit; Figs. 5 and 6 sectional elevation and plan views, respectively, of a form of pressure switch designed forcontrolling the circuit oi. the ignition alternator; Figs. 7 and 8 at views in end elevation and. in end cross-section, respectively, of the cylinders of a two-cylinder engine with a clevicc forhringing about the alternation of the i nition circuit by purely mechanical means; and Fig. 9 is vertical cross section of the ignition alternatdevice shown in connection with '2' and 8.

Referring to the present embodiment of my invention, illustrated in the drawings, A represents a gas engine having two cylinders B F, the piston rocls B" b of which are connected with the crank shaft 0 of the cngine, which journalecl in the frame of the engine and carries at one end the fly whee C. A governor l is connected with some part moved by the enginc,--in the present instance to one end of the heft c. The cylinclers ii I are provided with ignitcrs E c, respectively, and with electric switch devices 1') (Z, respectively. adapted to llC operated by explosion pressure in the cylimler. The ignitc'rs in a, maybe of any well known type, as for instance. the type wherein a contact lever within or in communication with the cylinder normally rc ts against a contact anvil, and is separated therefrom to produce a spark by being engaged by the piston head at the entl. of its return stroke. The ignitcrs E c are connected in an ignition circuit which includes a suitalfle source of current, as battery 9, a self induction coil H, switch contacts in the governor l, and other con tacts in the clcctrommgnctic switch or alternator l 4 v Thc'oliice' of the electromagnetic switch or alternator F is to switch or alternate the i} ignition circuit between the two igniters e,

two alternative gl iiihs, depending upci'i which side oi the center and againstthe poles of which magnet the arinatu I hes. @iie branch .ezziencs from the core of magnet ne, m in any gcvernoi' .2 pile of fine self-incluw secured at unceuil i0 ilie Zli'i work of the engiuc,-or fruin the ignii byway of a separate ccnductcc. if 1! (le shaft of the engine. and l1i.li1g' its other end 21 weight which 1 i'csis againstu. contact pin in meta uccticn with :1 contact brush '5. which brush is insulated from the arm iupun which it is carried by means of an in posed hiuclc of insulzitiug material. The free cud of the brush f is zulupied. as the shu. mukeccntaci zit re :15 with :1 MU)" tuiiic segiucui 2' carried on an-insuhilii huh z" i'oiatably iiicuiile-cl on the hearing of the shaft so that it may be iurneil to bring lliu segment iutc position i: kc cuz'ii'uct with the brush at any (1e lieu 1 win; in its mm tion. hen the speed 1. rcuiiicu beyond 21 certain predetcrminul miii, the weight i on the c l spi'in i increases .1. 5 pic 2 i is thrown oui' by (reul'riii fill force, thus breaking cuniuct with pin 2" and interrupting (he circuit.

The cpemticn of in ccnii'olling in ism is as follows Assume that {the :al'i'ilfiiiili f or switch in iel', of the BlQCi'IO-Tllil."flfil t switch l1 lics in QOIV'ACZ with ihc cor s (it magnet f, as shown in P I 3;. that branch 01" the ignition cii'cui cumplciml ch u 11 which extends to igni'ter E aswciulcil willy i eiulcylinder B of the engine, the brunch 0: ing tuthc ignite! e of cylinder 7') i'cuiuiuiug open. n equcnti'y wheii engine is stui'tei'h the best spark and the first cxplcsion will occur in cylinder B The pressure dcvelopcil by the explosion in cylinder B fumes the piston. of iii-c pre ure switch l.) uut'sc as in bring the emi 0" iuic contact with the niutallic hridgc (1 mmplcles the circuit of magnet f cf lilic muu'uciic switch. which 'thercup0n is cucrgizcci (c flljiiinl' the aruuil'ute uvcr ngziinsi ils poi the armature ic afi'ici the Yeti ciiuu of stem d f'i' lil'l is (Z of 'ilIQ'PI'GSSUI'Q switch 0 will; the iulliu pressure. "in the: pi lion to which. it h livcu umvml. by vii-tau; of the per-1213mm Way thc me- This in ugnet aiu cf lla-e uiumiui-e. This moveinciiii of the ;1l=flil11'fi iutei'rupis lhe hraiiclu (if ch igniticn circuit that includes ignicer thus ruiering cylinder I) ijcmpoii'arily uipeml' and completes the branch of the iticn circuit ii .fuul igniicr c, thereby Z) in condition L0 take the "plOSiOh. hen the explosicn occurs 'uler 71 the pressure switch cl assoi it i actuated. is momentarily .c circuit cf magnet f of he .e c switch 1*. thus causing the 'cinent if cue zii-n'uitui'e back is its cxrig ion, and again i'cndei'ing.cylinder "c and cylinder 7) inoperative. on continue as l'he engine guthc s 'ien the speed exceeds the limit ied by the gm'erucr, that (is icc i i'upt the ignite]: circuit, and upt'ljlic cxplo ons in (he unginc (i oi? the r-i'zgiue is reduced by (icing. l-Vlurn-thc speed 1 falls below-.1 he PIQLiPl'klIDlllfll limifi, if the cup iuu occurring by chance 16%;" cyiiiu'ci' happens fiist to 1w )ui'lc. IPQZ'IJTllL-SS of whether the lust mu-l: place in that cylinder or nut. 11 il'u: wise licreiiofcre. my system opal-ails w silci the explosion (0. 511211 cylwhich has iml received tic lust cxpic- :0 result tlmt uu umll'ci' what. the working conditions are. u coiili'ul stem equipped in u mluuce with my invunliou upciuics to d liute ihc (explosions. and cciisequcni'ly the. work evenly clii iilcil be iwcen the iwc cylinders 01' ci'igines.

In 7, 8 and 9 have illustrator] a. moililiml form of my invention in which thc ui ci'mitiou 0i lhc igniiiuu hctwceu he (liffereut c iliule" 02' engines effected :liirccl'ly by put 3* mechanical agencies and vcntion 0 elecfiuiiuiguctic E li illQEiQ fig lies. I have illustwo cylinder engine J whose cyliiu and L. wulci' juckciiel if. connected by pipes 73 and Z. rci lili {5, pressure switch M. This :cs a hollow substantially (ll. 1* ul'10-l23.l.f of which is hollow in form a semi uuuuluicylinder within which a piston m in the form (if a vane, secured in shaft in jcuinalcd in lhc frame 01' cas ing; m is 1(li1"" '8i "to" move. The pipes ,Z:

' lie with opposite sides of (his. end of the shaftm" 0pc. fins ac speed. ii ni-eilctci'mi i liicl a or piston in oscillates. "to sweep ever the suiriiuce an insulating block 972 and to in; c contact the limit- (if its iucvcincnt with contact terminals on" and. 7/7/ The (ii/i161 end of the shaft m protrudes 'irom um casing, and carries 1' washer, between which anal The casing is illicr' l {L CUZBPII: ion spring on, the

cap

- "laclied' "are loss more, i'vlicu an I hi cylinder ii, llie cizplosio n pressure :rausiaiitcd or way oi" 7c and. moves the vane m 0 1st the frictional resistance ilk; splmg m, to c sition shown in dolled lincs'ai; tlio otlicr end of the cylinder. iii' mow cs tl 2 switch arm m to the, poinl l'iQI'Q it comes into cngagemeat Willi the contact m The switch arm and. contact pieces m and m so connected in the ignition circuit that when the arm rests on contact piece 9a., the ignition circuit is co ipletci itoilic ignitcr associatcd Willi cyl idcr and when the arm rests on Contact int e circuit coniploted to the ignite-r of cylinder K. lit follows from this that cylinder L is now in condition to take the next cxplosiou, which, when it occurs, moves the vane oaclr into its original position and tho switch arm m into. cngagcment with (Lilllflfil? piccc m {.Tll? dcvico thus operates to alternate the ex 'plosions between tho cylinders.

Although liavo described more or less precise forms and details of construction, 1

do not intend to limit mysoli' thereto, as l.

contemplate changes in form, proportion of parts, and the sulistituzion equivalents as circumstances may suggest, oiyrc-nder expodicnt Without departing fi-omthc spirit or scope my invention and claims. For instance, although l. have described my inven tion particularly in connection with. an ono'n-o l ming two cylinders, it will be underod that may i be adapted us with any desired number of cylindsrs or engines.

it will also bc understood. that my 'lllVQIa tion is applicaolc not only to a system oi? electrical ignition, in connection r it has been illustrated and described, but also to any other system of ignition which it may be convenient to employ; also that a great varicty of well known types of switches and clcctro-magnetit'e mechanism for operating the same may be used in place of the particularamd novel form which i have described; and that the controller mechanism associated with the cylinder may be either a prcssrlrc actuatcd device, as" l have illustratcdand described it, or a device actuated by'any otlicr effect of an explosiou in the cylinder, withoutdcpartiug from the broad spirit of my invention.

1 claim: i

with said igniters. a sZWitcli'iu said circuit adapted to render said igniters operative alternately. an electro-ruagnet for operating said swilclu a circuit for energizing said clertroonagnct, and a switch controlling said last mentioned circuit actuated by explosion ctiects in one of-said cylinders.

2. ln an ignition system for explosive en gincs. the combination with a plurality of cylinders and igniters therefor, of a circuit including a. source of currentassociated with said ign'iters, an electromagnetic sivitclr in said circuit adapted to render said igniters operative alternately, a circuit 'for said electromagnetic switch,.and pressure operated switch mechanism associated with each of said cylinders adapted to control the circuit of said clcctro-maguetio switch, wlicrcby an explosion in one cylinder ad apts the ignitcr off the other cylinder to be reudcred operative.

3. In an ignition system -for explosive enginemtne combination with a plurality of cylinders and ignitcrs therefor, of a circuit for said igniters including a source of current, a switch for rendering said ignitors operative alternately, two elcctro-magnets associated with said switch and arranged to more it from one side to the other, a. device associated with each. cylinder and adapted. to be actuated bycxplosion ellccts tlaorciru. an electric switch. associated with each explosion device and adapted to be operated '(l1ereby,-and a circuit arranged to connect eacl'i of the aforesaid clcctro-magnets with one of the pressure operated switches.

l. In an ignition system for explosive eugiiies, the combination with a plurality of cylinders each having an ignitcr, of a circuit including a source of current associated with said igniters, a switch in'said circuit adapted to render said ignitcrs operative altcrnatcly, two electro-magncts associated with said switch and adapted to move the sums from one to the other of its alternate positions, a permanent magnet associated with said switch and adapted to maintain the switch in the positions to which it has been moved, an actuating circuit for said electro-ma nets, and a. pressure actuated switch a 'cciatcd with each of said cylinders, said switch being included in the circuit. of the elcctro-magnets and. being adapted to control the operation thereof.

In an ignition control system for ex I plosirc engines, the combination with a plurality of cylinders and an ignition circuit therefor, of an clecho-magnetic switch for controlling said ignition circuit, said switch compr sing a icrmancnt magnet fulcrumed on a has, two electroarranged to present their poles to said permanent magnet on opposite sides thereof, said permanent magnet sewing as the armature for said magnets, and being adapted to oscillate between them, and contact surfaces on said armature and the poles of said electro-' cuit divided in a plurality-of branches, one.

for each cylinder, a switchadapted to complete any oneof the branch ignltion circuits,

pressure actuated mechanisms responsive to the explosions in said cylinders and adapted to control the operation of said switch, and a governor controlled by the speed of the engines and cooperating with sald electrical circuit to break thesame whenever the speed exceeds a predetermined maximum.

7. The combination, with a plurality of explosive engines and their cylinders, of igniters for said cylinders, an electrical circuitdivided in a plurality of branches, one for each cylinder, a switch adapted to complete any one of the branch ignltion circuits, pressure actuated mechanisms responsive to the explosions in said cylinders and adapted to control the operation of said switch, and a governor controlled by the speed of the engines and cooperating with said electrical circuit to break the same whenever the speed exceeds a predetermined maximum, said governor comprising a spring-pressed weight rotated by the engine and interposed in the igniter circuit, said Weight forming part of the circuit but arranged to open such circuit by its movement by centrifugal force through excessive rotation.

8. In an ignition system for explosive engines, the combination, with a plurality of cylinders each having an igniter, of a circuit including a source of current and having branches associated respectively with said igniters, an electromagnetic switch adapted to complete the circuit through said branches F successively, a control circuit for said switch having a like number of branches associated with said switch 'to move it to its different positions, and pressure-controlled switch mechanism associated with each ofsaid cylindlers adapted to complete the circuit through the branches of said control circuit respectively to shift said magnetic switch, whereby an explosion in one cylinder will adapt the igniter of the succeeding cylinder to be rendered operative.

WALTER J. MGVIGKER. Witnesses:

HOWARD C. RICHARDSON, VVQ R. MGGALLUM. 

